Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-01-20
Reply to blue Stone"

| Ed. Re1,Ster- You know that in every
community there are some persons who are
never pleased with anything or anybody, no
matter bow much you do for them. They
are chronic grumblers and their greatest de-
light is in finding fault with school teachers
and preachers. 1 think the new correspond
ent from Des Arc, "Blue Stone,' must be-
long to that class. He seems to be very
much exercised about the Union Sunday
School, the union organ and the Methodist
Church. think when person writes for
paper they should know whereof they
speak, for it is published abroad and causes
considerable comment by both friends and
strangers. / did not mention this little I'M
pleaSantness in my article last week, for do
not believe in putting every bit Of town gos-
sip and contentionin to the county paper to be
read by every one; hut since ''Blue Stone"
has taken it upon himself 10 let the people
know that he is "non- Methodist" as he
says, and is opposed to denominatIonal Sun
day schools, feel that have the right to
defend the case, for he certainly did not state
it as it should have been. Now for the sake
of right and in behalf of the NJ. E. Church
here beg permission to explain this little
unpleasantness.
On Saturday night after Mr.. Adams had
finished preaching he very cordially invited
the superintendent, Mr.. Clarkson, to bring
his Sunday School into the new house. He
did so. Then on Sunday morning after the
sermon, aud after MIR. Adams had offered
the house to the Baptists to use one Sunday
in each month, he made this announcement:
son the I'd Sunday in April, at 8 O'Clock in
the afternoon, if there are ten persons who
will attend a Methodist Sunday School will
then organize one here. l do not propose to
interfere with your school; continue that as
union school if you wish, but would ad-
wise you 10 make it Baptist school,"
Now, "Blue Stone" did not say that Mr.
Adams gave them permission to organize 8
Baptist school there. No, he was very clear
of that. He did not say that Mr.. Adams Of
fered them one Sunday and that he thoughti it
would be better to have Baptist school
than a Union one. Ne, here is what 'Blue
Stone" said in last weeks paper: "Brother
Adams announced in a most autocratic man
ner that Methodist Sunday School will now
be organized, thus ignoring the Union school
altogether" This statement is not true.
What Mr.. Adams said and did was in a very
friendly, courteous way. There was nothing
arbitrary about 1t. He simply invited, and
it was left for them to accept or refuse, just
as they please. He gave them every privii-
eye to call the house Union or Baptist
church. Where was the illiberality display
ed? Was it in not giving "Bue Stone" a
deed to the church: Now as to the organ,
assure you that it was not taken into the
house without the consent of the superin-
tendent, DR.. ClarksOn, and of those who had
the most interest in it. Then as the Metho-
dists were the first, of course, to use the
church they used the organ in all their SER
vices as they had always done before. "Blue
Stone" has been too quick in his judgment.
He has not given us fair trial yet. The
Methodists are noted for their liberty in all
things and that is the cause Of this trouble
now. The non- Methodists are just the OPP
poslte, and want to monopollZe the whole
thing. After quoting scripture, "Blue Stone"
further says, 1.-THE ilhberality displayed in
the case shows that this excellent advice does
not amount to much where sectarian bigotry
has sway" don't know where you could
find a place where sectarian bigotry and
egotism has greater sway than among these
nom Methodists down here. No one has ever
said or even intimated that the Sunday
School and the Baptists should not use the
organ in their meetings. The reason they
have not, is because their preacher was not
here at his last appointment, and they think
We should not have used our own house and
the organ Gas much ours as theirs), because
they could not use it first. | expect next to
hear, "Blue Stone" and his followers say
that We shall not teach and preach Methodist
doctrine in our own house-might as we'll as
to raise a racket because the preacher in
charge wants to organize the Methodist chill
dren into q school, and that in the afternoon,
SO as not to CONFLICT with the Union school in
the morning. And, IS for the literature. We
expect to furnish that oursslyes, and IL the